KUENNEN, Arlene B. 1914-2009

KUENNEN

Posted By: K. Kittleson
Date: 4/25/2009 at 12:54:04

Kuennen, Arlene Blanche

NORTHWOOD, IOWA - Arlene Blanche (Sbiral) Kuennen, 94, of Northwood died Wednesday (April 22, 2009) at the Lutheran Retirement Home in Northwood.

A funeral mass for Arlene will be held at 10:30 a.m. Monday, April 27, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 412 N. Broadway, Manly, with the Rev. David Kucera and Deacon Bob Mega officiating. Burial will be in the Sunset Rest Cemetery in Northwood.

Visitation will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. on Sunday at Conner Colonial Chapel, 1008 First Ave. S. in Northwood, with a parish rosary at 6 p.m. followed by a scriptural wake service.

The family suggests that those wishing to give a memorial may do so to Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Manly or to Hospice of North Iowa in her memory.

Arlene Blanche (Sbiral) Kuennen was born the daughter of Edward and Lucy (Novak) Sbiral on December 26, 1914, in the Czechoslovakian community of Spillville. Arlene graduated from Immaculate Conception Academy High School in Dubuque.

Arlene was united in marriage to Arnold John Kuennen on June 12, 1934, and together they farmed and raised their family of eight children near Festina, Iowa. As a young married couple they loved to attend Knights of Columbus and wedding dances where they swayed and twirled to the music of the big band era.

In 1958, they moved to a flatter, larger, more fertile farm near Northwood. Like other farm wives who needed to supplement the family income, she sought employment outside the home, working for Deluxe Products in Lake Mills. There she worked for 17 years as a supply clerk in the filter company's tool crib.

Arlene's greatest love was large family gatherings, but she also enjoyed reading, fishing, sewing, knitting, crocheting, baking, and gardening. She was especially fond of flowers having a dozen or more African violets blooming in her living room.

It gave her great satisfaction to make something for someone else. Over the years she gave away many quilts, afghans, baby blankets, doilies, hot pads, pillow covers, church vestments and altar cloths, baked goods or any other needed item. She also enjoyed traveling across the United States and catching big "Northerns" with her husband, Arnold, in Canada.

She was an active member of the Altar and Rosary Society of St. Mary's Catholic Church in Festina and later St. Mary's Guild at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Manly. As an active member of the VFW Ladies Auxiliary in Northwood she brought in her share of potluck items for the VFW dinners. As a volunteer she helped in the Clerk of Court office at the Worth County Courthouse.

Left to cherish Arlene's memory are her children and their spouses, Allan (Marian) Kuennen of Hudson, Alyce Mellick of Fall City, Wash., Ann Hannigan of Chesapeake, Va., Ardath (Mark) Junge of Cheyenne, Wyo., Arthur (Barbara) Kuennen of Kensett, Aaron (Carol) Kuennen of Albert Lea, Minn., and Joseph (Tina) Kuennen of Northwood; and Amy (James) LeCocq of Waseca, Minn., and special friends, Bob and Sue Mega, of Northwood. Arlene proudly claimed 18 granddaughters, two grandsons, 23 great-grandchildren, as well as other extended family members and friends.

Arlene was preceded in death by her husband, Arnold; her parents, Edward and Lucy Sbiral; her brother, Alden Sbiral; sons-in-law, James Hannigan, and Donald Mellick, and great-grandson, Blake Wilson.

Conner Colonial Chapel, 641-324-1543. www.colonialchapels.com

[Published in the Globe Gazette - 4/25/2009]